George Elmy

Article from the History of Seaham compiled by Alan H.Coulson and staff at ROCK HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE.

LIFEBOAT DISASTER.SOLE SURVIVOR OF SEAHAM DISASTER TELLS HOW LIFEBOAT CAPSIZED
“ACCIDENT” VERDICT ON NINE.The sole survivor of the Seaham lifeboat disaster on November 17, a 32 year-old miner, Donald Whinfield Burrell retold the whole story of the tragedy. He gave evidence at the Seaham inquest on the eight men and the boy – his own son, who died. A verdict of “accidental death due to drowning” was recorded.

RNLB George Elmy on the Chemical Beach 18/11/1962.Launch of RNLB George Elmy shortly after her arrival in Seaham .

She was formally christened by the Marchioness of Londonderry on 26th of June 1950.
The George Elmy was a Liverpool-type boat but capable of being launched from a beach. She weighed 8 tons and carried two 18 horse-power watertight petrol engines, giving her a speed of seven and a half knots.